Sterling says his club-and-country captain Gerrard has been acting as his minder and given him the confidence that Liverpool can beat United, the current Premier League leaders.

He told the Mirror: “He has been brilliant for me. He’s always looking after me, always checking to see if I’m alright. I’ve noticed as well that if anyone touches me on the pitch, he’ll always get them straight back with a tackle!

“He’s always looking after me, on the pitch, off the pitch.

"He looked after me when I first joined the club, got into the team and when I was looking for somewhere to live. He’s an inspiration and a great captain.”